Feb. 17, 2026 Voiland College This Week

Go Cougs !

Partha Pande visited the state of Washington’s congressional delegation in Washington, DC.

Parteek Kumar was recognized by NVIDIA DLI as Gold-Tier Campus Ambassador.

Researchers led by Annie Du, Kaiyan Qiu, and Yonghao Fu developed a 3D printed, microneedle based wearable biosensor that uses single atom nanozyme catalysts to deliver more accurate, minimally invasive, and wirelessly connected glucose monitoring, advancing next generation diabetes care.

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VCEA Attention Grabbers

Nominate a Voiland College peer who has gone above and beyond in their work to create a positive culture! Nominees will be entered in a drawing for Ferdinand’s Grabbers!

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Events

Tuesday, February 17 @ 1:10 PM

CySER Virtual Seminar – Securing Machine Learning: Evolving Threats, Attacks, and Defenses

Friday, February 20 @ 10:30 AM

The School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering Seminar Series, “Egyptian Blue: Ancient Materials Engineering, Modern Functional Properties, and the Science of Color”

Upcoming Events

Full listing of Voiland College events.

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Opportunities

May 6: DOE Office of Science Graduate Student Research Program Applications Due

The 2026 DOE Office of Science Graduate Student Research Program (SCGSR) is accepting applications! This is a great opportunity for PhD students to complete part of their thesis research at a DOE lab.

Harold Frank Engineering Entrepreneurship Program – Apply by Apr. 13

Applications for the Fall 2026 cohort of the Harold Frank Engineering Entrepreneurship Program are now open! Scholarships available! WSU’s Harold Frank Engineering Entrepreneurship Institute is a multidisciplinary program for junior and senior students who are interested in technological entrepreneurship.

CougStarter Ends Mar. 4

Crimson Robotics, National Society of Black Engineers, and Wazzu Racing are among the student clubs participating in CougStarter, Washington State University’s crowdfunding program, empowering registered student organizations from any campus to share their visions, ideas, and plans. CougStarter ends March 4

Feb 22: Top 10 Senior Nominations Due

Since the early 1900s, Washington State University has honored outstanding seniors. Today, the WSU Alumni Association and Student Alumni Connection continue this tradition with the Top Ten Seniors Awards. This award recognizes ten graduating seniors for academic excellence, leadership, campus involvement, and community service. Nominate now: Submit your nomination, review eligibility, and learn more.

Feb. 25: Provost Award Nominations Due

The Provost’s Awards recognize individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership and service to the WSU Pullman and surrounding community, as well as those who support leadership development in WSU Pullman students. Award categories include undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and staff, community organizations, and registered student organizations. Nominees for the WSU Provost’s Awards for Leadership are reviewed within the framework of the Social Change Model of Leadership Development. In this model, leadership is viewed as a process rather than a position. The values of equity, social justice, self-knowledge, personal empowerment, collaboration, citizenship, and service are explicitly promoted.

Feb. 28: GIESO Faculty/Staff Distinguished Achievement Award Nominations Due

The President’s Commission for Gender Identity/Expression and Sexual Orientation (GIESO) would like to celebrate and honor excellence supporting the LGBTQIA2S+ community at WSU. Beginning Jan. 5, GIESO will be soliciting nominations for exceptional faculty, staff, or administrators who have provided exemplary contributions to the LGBTQIA2S+ community by making the university a more inclusive place for all. This award demonstrates the institution’s commitment to fostering a more welcoming campus culture and climate and shows all people, including members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community, that they are a seen, valued, and vibrant part of the WSU community.

Mar. 28: Kids’ Science and Engineering Day

Join us for a day of hands-on fun at the 17th annual Kids’ Science and Engineering Day, hosted by the WSU Society of Women Engineers! Explore interactive STEM activities, experiments, engineering challenges, and demonstrations at Sloan and Dana Hall on WSU Pullman’s campus, designed for children K–5. Those who register by March 1 are guaranteed a free t-shirt and goodie bag.

Mar. 2: VCEA Summer Grant Program Applications Due

The 2026 VCEA Summer Grant Program offers up to 12 weeks of graduate student support during summer 2026 to assist with the preparation and submission of grant proposals to recognized federal funding agencies for the 2026–2027 cycle. To apply, please submit a one-page project overview and objectives (formatted as part of an NSF proposal or NIH Specific Aims page) to christina.mccloy@wsu.edu by 5pm on March 2.

Mar. 5-6: AI Foundations for Interdisciplinary Research: A Hands-On Workshop

This workshop is designed for WSU faculty from all disciplines who are interested in developing or expanding their AI research toolkit. Led by EECS faculty Paola Pesantez and Parteek Kumar, the sessions will introduce foundational AI concepts through hands-on demos, guided exercises, and practical examples tailored for beginners. No prior AI or programming experience is required. Participants will also engage in a research mixer with EECS AI faculty, offering opportunities to discuss early project ideas, interdisciplinary applications, and potential collaboration pathways. Participation is limited to 20 faculty members and will be on a first-come, first-served basis, with coffee and lunch provided on both days. Register for the AI workshop by Feb. 1, 2026.

Digital Accessibility

All WSU employees who create and publish digital content (such as email, documents, multimedia, and websites) are responsible for making sure their digital content is accessible and provides an inclusive experience. WSU’s Digital Accessibility website provides assessment, resources, and support to help make your digital content and technology accessible to everyone.

$5,000 VCEA – ESFCOM Grant Program

The VCEA – ESFCOM Spring 2026 Grant Program offers up to $5,000 to support the preparation and submission of a grant proposal to a federal granting agency during the 2026-2027 cycle. Funds may be used for PI salary support for grant writing, travel, equipment, or supplies, or undergraduate or graduate research assistance (per HR guidelines). The program is open to tenure-track and tenured faculty in VCEA and ESFCOM. Application Instructions: submit a one-page project overview and objectives (formatted as an NSF Project Summary or NIH Specific Aims page) by 5:00 pm on April 17, 2026 to christina.mccloy@wsu.edu.

Nominate a Colleague for the Crimson Spirit Award

Do you know a WSU employee who is exceptionally creative in problem-solving or who consistently goes above and beyond? Nominate that WSU employee for the Crimson Spirit Award today!

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Be Safe Cougs

VCEA Wellness Center

Our new Wellness Center in Daggy 133 is open for drop-in support Monday–Friday, 9:00–4:00. The center includes three rooms you can use during those hours: an art room, a game room, a frustration room, and a Zen room.

VCEA Food Pantry

Voiland College has a new food pantry! Food items are available to all VCEA students, faculty, and staff experiencing food insecurity. Open Monday through Friday, 3-5 pm in Dana 107.

Donations of non-perishable items for the pantry can be dropped off at Carpenter 5th floor reception, Sloan 110 or Dana 110, or they can be made via Amazon Wish List. Interested in volunteering afternoons at the food pantry? Please contact Gary Offerdahl.